Azerbaijan’s mine-clearance drive hits record high in 2025, ANAMA official says

Azerbaijan cleared a record 69,206 hectares of land from mines and unexploded ordnance in 2025, marking the largest area cleared by the country in a single year.

Samir Poladov, deputy chairman of the board of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), announced the figure during a panel discussion at the 4th International Mine Action Conference in Baku, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Poladov said Azerbaijan plans to clear more than 65,000 hectares of mine-contaminated land in 2026. Since the beginning of the year, mine-clearance operations have already covered 49,862 hectares, he added.

“Mine contamination remains one of the world’s biggest challenges. The estimated area of mine-contaminated territories in Azerbaijan stands at 11,667 square kilometres. According to estimates, more than 1 million mines have been planted across these lands,” Poladov said.

By Vafa Guliyeva